Positive selection and climatic effects on MHC class II gene diversity in hares (Lepus capensis) from a steep ecological gradient.

ABSTRACT: In natural populations, allelic diversity of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is commonly interpreted as resulting from positive selection in varying spatiotemporal pathogenic landscapes. Composite pathogenic landscape data are, however, rarely available. We studied the spatial distribution of allelic diversity at two MHC class II loci (DQA, DQB) in hares, Lepus capensis, along a steep ecological gradient in North Africa and tested the role of climatic parameters for the spatial distribution of DQA and DQB proteins. Climatic parameters were considered to reflect to some extent pathogenic landscape variation. We investigated historical and contemporary forces that have shaped the variability at both genes, and tested for differential selective pressure across the ecological gradie

SUBMITTER: Awadi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6068193 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature